VR Tech Times

Skoda introduced the second-gen Kodiaq on April 17, 2025, bringing in a more premium cabin, new features, and a slight power bump. Deliveries of the carmaker’s flagship SUV began in the month after, and it was sold as a CKD. As it has been over a year since the premium SUV was launched, we delve into its sales performance to determine how it has fared in the market.  Kodiaq has recorded 1,802 total unit sales in its first year Prices have changed due to GST benefits and an MY26 update. New entry-level Lounge trim introduced within five months after launch. Skoda Kodiaq sales  1,802 units of the SUV have been sold in a year since its launch In its first year of sales, the Kodiaq sold 1,802 units, averaging 150 units per month. While 205 units were sold in the first month, sales numbers began to decline in the coming months. Sales peaked in October 2025, with 305 units sold, likely because of price cuts due to GST revisions. But the momentum was short-lived, with numbers risi...

BMW Motorrad has unveiled the Vision K 18 concept at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este held at Lake Como, previewing a more radical take on the brand’s inline-six motorcycles. BMW Vision K 18 concept is powered by a 1,800cc inline-six engine Draws design inspiration from the BAC Concorde Six LED headlights and six exhaust outlets reference the inline-six engine BMW Vision K 18 concept The K 18 concept could influence the styling of future BMW touring motorcycles. The concept is built around a traditional 1,800cc inline-six engine, which also serves as the motorcycle’s visual focal point. BMW says the elongated silhouette draws inspiration from high-speed aircraft such as the Aerospatiale/BAC Concorde, giving the K 18 a low and stretched appearance. Design details referencing the six-cylinder layout include six LED headlight elements, six intake tubes and six exhaust outlets integrated into the wide rear section. The concept also gets hand-formed aluminium body panels, forged carbo...

It’s a brave and difficult move to completely reimagine a troubled yet beloved century-old brand, but that is exactly what TVS has done with Norton. I was in the room when the bike was first shown to the world late last year, and I recall sharing the surprised and rather reserved response that was expressed by many in attendance. After all, the reborn Nortons were nothing like anything we expected, and instead of leaning on the past legacy, the new models leapt firmly into the future. Norton Manx R design and quality - 9/10 A clean, minimal and beautiful design with some refined touches In the months that have followed, I’ve really grown to like the way the Manx R looks in images online, and this was cemented after having spent a day with the bike. This is a clean, suave and genuinely beautiful motorcycle. The more you absorb it in person, the more you’ll notice the subtle yet sophisticated surface treatments, and the tail-lamp is a unique design signature. The lack of aggressive aero...

Petrol and diesel prices have been increased by around 90 paise per litre today. As per state-run Indian Oil, petrol prices in the National Capital increased to Rs 98.64 per litre from Rs 97.77 earlier, while diesel prices rose to Rs 91.58 per litre from Rs 90.67. Reportedly, rates were also increased in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai. Last Friday, the government raised petrol and diesel prices by over Rs 3 per litre , the first hike in four years, to offset losses caused by rising global crude oil prices amid the US-Iran war. Petrol and diesel prices on May 19 Current petrol rates Region New price (Rs litre) Old price (Rs litre) Difference (paise) Delhi 98.64 97.77 87 Mumbai 107.59* 106.68 91 Chennai 104.49* 103.67 82 Kolkata 109.70* 108.74 96 Petrol prices have risen by less than Rs 1 per litre across all four cities, with the sharpest increase in Kolkata at 96 paise. Mumbai follows closely with a 91-paise hike, while Delhi is up by 0.87 paise. Chennai has seen the smallest increase, a...

The Tesla Model Y is the American company’s first and only EV on sale in India. It is offered in standard rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and long-wheelbase all-wheel-drive (AWD) guises, with varying range figures, features and, of course, prices. The Model Y has been a strong seller in overseas markets, and if you are considering adding one to your garage, choosing the right variant is important. Here is a closer look at what each Model Y variant offers and which one is the better buy. Tesla Model Y price list Tesla Model Y prices (in Rs lakh) Variant Premium RWD Premium Long Range RWD Premium L AWD Price 59.89 67.89 61.99 Tesla Model Y dimensions Tesla Model Y dimensions Variant Premium RWD Premium Long Range RWD Premium L AWD Length (mm) 4,790 4,790 4,969 Width (mm) 1,982 1,982 1,982 Height (mm) 1,624 1,624 1,668 Wheelbase (mm) 2,890 2,890 3,040 Ground clearance (mm) 167 167 169 Wheels (inches) 19 19 19 Seating capacity 5 5 6 The RWD Model Y variants – Premium and Premium Long Range – ar...

The MV Agusta Brutale 1000 ABT is the result of a collaboration between Italian motorcycle manufacturer MV Agusta and German tuning specialist ABT Sportsline. The limited production run of 130 units commemorates ABT Sportsline’s 130th anniversary. Limited to 130 individually numbered units worldwide Features carbon-fibre rear wheel cover 998cc inline-four produces up to 208hp with racing kit MV Agusta Brutale 1000 ABT: All you need to know Only 130 units of the bike will be produced The Brutale 1000 ABT is powered by a 998cc inline-four engine updated to comply with Euro 5+ regulations. Changes include new camshafts, revised engine mapping, improved throttle response, optimised gearbox ratios, and a shorter final drive ratio. As a result, the engine produces 201hp at 13,500rpm and 116Nm at 11,000rpm in standard form. An optional racing kit adds an Arrow titanium slip-on exhaust along with dedicated ECU mapping, boosting output to 208hp at 14,000rpm. Suspension duties are handled by el...

from Autocar India https://ift.tt/grNsRQV

GOOD FOR: Spacious cabin, efficient engines  LOOK OUT FOR: Suspension wear, MGU recall The Ciaz is Maruti’s competitor in the C-segment of sedans, and it has always stood out for its comfy and roomy cabin, easy-to-drive nature and efficient engines. The Ciaz was last updated in 2018, which brought in tweaked styling, more features and new engines. Even though it’s on its way out, the Ciaz makes sense for family buyers, especially when you can get a used one for the price of a new small hatchback. Here’s what you need to know when buying one. Maruti Ciaz powertrain and fuel efficiency The Ciaz was available with both petrol and diesel engine options A big talking point on the updated Ciaz was its new engines. At launch, Maruti introduced the 103hp, 138Nm, 1.5-litre K15B four-cylinder petrol motor with mild-hybrid tech. Gearbox options include a 5-speed manual and a 4-speed automatic, with an ARAI-certified fuel economy of 21.56kpl and 20.28kpl, respectively.  The petrol engi...

The TVS iQube is offered in three variants – iQube, iQube S, and iQube ST. The base iQube variant is available with three battery capacity options (2.2 kWh, 3.1 kWh, and 3.5 kWh), while the S and ST variants come with fixed larger battery packs. Here’s what else each variant has to offer and what each one costs.  TVS iQube variant breakdown iQube The base TVS iQube is offered with three battery pack options – 2.2 kWh, 3.1 kWh, and 3.5 kWh. Across all three versions, the feature list and mechanical package remain largely identical. The 2.2 kWh battery offers a claimed IDC range of 94km and takes 2 hours 45 minutes for a 0-80 percent charge. The 3.1 kWh version increases the claimed range to 123km, with a 0-80 percent charging time of 4 hours 3 minutes. Meanwhile, the 3.5 kWh option delivers a claimed IDC range of 145km and takes 4 hours 40 minutes for a 0-80 percent charge. The 2.2 kWh variant has a top speed of 75kph, while the 3.1 kWh and 3.5 kWh versions can reach 82kph. All thr...

KTM has taken the same downsizing approach used on the 390 Duke and applied it to the 390 Adventure range as well. The result is a new 350cc version of the 390 Adventure . Just like the Duke, KTM has chosen to retain the 390 branding here too. This is now the most affordable bike in the Adventure range. Sitting above it is the 390 Adventure X with a 19/17-inch alloy wheel setup, followed by the 390 Adventure R , that gets a 21/18-inch spoked wheel setup, long travel suspension, and tubed tyres. And finally, the 390 Adventure S is the top-spec variant with a 21/17-inch tubeless spoked wheel setup. All the earlier mentioned variants continue with the previous 398.7cc engine for now. We spent a few days with the new 350cc variant to tell you how the new engine performs in the real world. 350cc KTM 390 Adventure Styling and Features - 9/10 The bike gets the same two colour schemes as the Adventure S, while the styling otherwise remains unchanged. It uses the 19/17-inch alloy wheel setu...

About ten years ago, I got to learn what brake fade on a big bike can feel like. I was on the ferociously fast GSX-S1000 naked and on my fifth or so lap around the Kari Motor Speedway. The layout in those days was different, with a longer main straight that had a strong downhill braking zone into a right hander. On the GSX, the brake point was at about 240kph, and I arrived at this having (unwisely) ignored a slightly softer-than-normal feel in the brake lever the lap before. This time, the lever went almost completely lifeless, and the bike just wouldn’t slow down. With life flashing before my eyes, I hammered down all six gears, stepped on the rear brake, kept pumping the front lever and held on. The bike slithered left and right, ran off the track and onto the runoff, before thankfully coming to a halt just a few feet before the tyre wall. Fast forward to last month, and I was at MRF’s world-class new testing facility in Trichy, trying out their new tyres on a Suzuki Hayabusa . Fly...

The Tata Tiago EV has just joined our long-term fleet, and I wasted no time putting it to the test. My daily routine is a straightforward commute in Mumbai from Chembur to Byculla and back. It is predictable, and on paper, this compact EV fits that brief perfectly. But I also drive to Pune every weekend to see my family, which is a challenge for a small EV with a relatively modest 24kWh battery pack. Especially when all I want is to get home quickly rather than stop to charge. The Mumbai to Pune run is particularly tricky. While the roughly 150km distance is within the Tiago EV’s claimed capability, Friday traffic on the expressway is heavier, and the long uphill stretches do not help efficiency either. Curious to see how it would cope, I decided to give it the full treatment and came away genuinely surprised. With its 24kWh battery pack, we at Autocar India have tested a real-world range of around 187km on a full charge in mixed conditions. Stop-go traffic, lower speeds, and regener...

In its heyday, Ideal Jawa (India) Ltd. had a wide variety of models on sale, ranging from a tiny 50cc moped to a twin-cylinder 350cc roadster. Of course, the various popular 250cc, single-cylinder models are what ultimately defined the Yezdi and Jawa brands, and you’ll see or hear about them more often. While the 350 was the ill-fated flagship, it nonetheless has a unique origin story and is best characterized as a ‘parts-bin’ special. Special thanks must go to this Yezdi’s owner, Hakim Rawat, who was kind enough to let us spend a tranquil morning with it so we could bring you this story. Before it came along, Yezdi’s line-up was primarily multiple iterations and variants using the original 250cc Jawa Type 353 as their genesis. Before we tell you how the Yezdi 350 came to be, we need to set the scene, as it were. In the late ‘80s – up until the Yezdi arrived – if you wanted to make the bold choice of standing out from the crowd with a 350cc machine, you had only two mainstream optio...

The KTM 390 Duke was known for its loud styling, explosive mid-range performance and an aggressive nature that made it the benchmark 400cc naked bike in India. In order to avoid the 40 percent GST on motorcycles above 350cc, KTM has downsized the engine to 350cc. We spent a couple of days with the bike to find out if the legend lost its hooligan edge. Styling and Features - 9/10 The 399cc model will still be sold alongside this new 350cc Duke and called the 390 Duke R . Visually, not much has changed with the new model. The easiest way to identify the new 350cc Duke from the original 399cc version is the black frame, replacing the orange unit seen on the 390 Duke R. Apart from that, the motorcycle remains identical. You still get the sharp and aggressive styling, TFT display, traction control, launch control, and the bi-directional quickshifter. Engine, Performance, and Mileage - 8/10 Just like what Triumph did with its 400 range, KTM has reduced the stroke of the engine from 64mm to...